Australia: Cuban Granchico can regain lost form in Monday handicap
With the benefit of a recent prep race, even if it was a ninth-place finish, the 5-year-old gelding Cuban Granchico is well placed to win for the third time in his career in a seven-furlong handicap at Kembla Grange Racecourse in Australia on Monday evening.
A winner of 2 of 8 starts, Cuban Granchico returned from a five-month layoff to finish ninth by more than six lengths against a tougher group of handicap runners in a six-furlong race at Rosehill Gardens on Jan. 14 in a loss that can be forgiven considering the class level.
Cuban Granchico did have good form as recently as July, winning consecutive starts at six furlongs in a maiden race and a handicap at Kembla Grange. In both starts, Cuban Granchico led throughout.
In Monday’s race, Cuban Granchico drew the inside post in a full field of 14 and is likely to be prominent from the start under jockey Rory Hutchings, who was aboard the gelding for the maiden-race win.
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The large field will not have a heavy favorite.
Glint of Silver was the slight choice at 9-2 in early betting on Sunday, compared to Cuban Granchico at 5-1. Glint of Silver won a maiden race at 6 1/4 furlongs at Canterbury Park in his ninth start on Dec. 9, and has since finished sixth by 1 1/2 lengths in a handicap at Royal Randwick Racecourse on Dec. 31, and second by three-quarters of a length at Kembla Grange on Jan. 21.
In his recent starts, Glint of Silver has raced in a stalking position. He drew post 14 in this field, which will require jockey Brenton Avdulla to use some of the 3-year-old gelding’s speed to secure position before the turn.
The 4-year-old gelding Martini Crusader is a danger from off the pace. He finished second by slightly more than 1 1/4 lengths in a six-furlong handicap at Gosford Racecourse on Jan. 25 in his first start since October.
Martini Crusader has won once in 13 starts, and has been second six times.
Kembla Grange has a seven-race program beginning at 9:15 p.m. Eastern or 6:15 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.
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